412 



KOETH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[no. 27 



blackbirds, luuloubtedly of tliis species, near the head of Dease l\i\ er, 

 on the divide betAveen the Coppermine and Great Bear Lake, early in 

 August, 1902. 



Euphagus cyanocephalus (Wagl.). Brewer Blackbird. 



This species appears not to occur, at least on our route, north of 

 Athabaska Landing, Alberta, where it is common." 



In 1901 we found it occurring in large flocks along the route 

 between Edmonton and Athabaska Landing, April 29 to May 5. 

 After leaving the latter point we did not note the bird until A^e 

 again arrived there on August 30, when we observed numbers about 

 the buildings. We found it common also near Sturgeon River on 

 September 3. 



In the spring of 1903 we first noted it at Edmonton, May 8, when 

 we saw a few, and found it abundant between there and Athabaska 

 Landing, May 11 to 15. On their return trip Alfred E. Preble and 

 Merritt Car}^ noted one at Athabaska Landing, September 16, and 

 found it fairly common in the open country between that place and 

 Edmonton, September 16 to 21. They found it abundant also be- 

 tween Edmonton and Calgar}- on September 28. 



In 1904 I found it very common along the road between Athabaska 

 Landing and Edmonton, Sej)tember 2 to 4. 



In September, 1894, J. Alden Loring observed immense flocks feed- 

 ing in every grainfield near Edmonton. In 1896 he found them 

 common along the Jasper House trail in the early part, of the sum- 

 mer, and noted several small flocks near the junction of Grand Cache 

 and Smoky rivers late in September. 



Macoun records eggs taken by Spreadborough at Edmonton. Al- 

 berta, May 22, 1897.^ 



duiscalus quiscula aeneus Ridgw. Bronzed Grackle. 



The bronzed grackle occurs abundantly in certain marshy localities, 

 notably the deltas of the larger rivers, north to Great Slave Lake. 



In 1901 we found this bird common a few miles north of Edmonton, 

 Ma}^ 1. We next noted the species in the Quatre Fourches marsh, 

 Ma^^ 24, observing a number. We found it abundant in the swamps 

 bordering Rocher River on June 5, and also 25 miles below Peace 

 River, June 12 and 13, where we took a male. We next observed it 

 on Smith Portage, June 18, and saw numbers daily at Fort Smith, 

 June 19 to 28. Here we took a young l^ird just from the nest on June 

 19, and during our stay collected several adults. We saw a few on 

 Slave River below Fort Smith, June 30 and July 1, and at Fort 



« Russell records one taken at Fort CliipeNvyan, May 2.3, 1893 {Kxi^l. in Far 

 North, p. 260, 1S98). The reputed specimen has been examined and proves 

 referable to Qui sea] us q. ceneus. 



^ Cat. Canadian Birds, Part II, p. 411, 1903. 



